Comments on: Supporting the Troops? http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/ Firedoglake weblog Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:23:19 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: osage http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403581 osage Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:31:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403581 <p>The majority of Americans don’t give a rats ass about our combat troops in Iraq and or they feel impotent to do anything about it. Which category do you fall into? Most Americans don’t even understand that war is personal. They see it as some remote philosophical policy debate. They don’t see the reality of human suffering, death, dying and what flying pieces of metal do to the human body. The war in Iraq is no more violent to them than what they see on television and in video games. This administration actively prevents what’s going on in Iraq daily from being seen in the daily news! Between what the Bush government wants and what network news is unwilling to do, Iraq is just a walk in the park, and what we don’t know can’t hurt THEM.</p> The majority of Americans don’t give a rats ass about our combat troops in Iraq and or they feel impotent to do anything about it. Which category do you fall into? Most Americans don’t even understand that war is personal. They see it as some remote philosophical policy debate. They don’t see the reality of human suffering, death, dying and what flying pieces of metal do to the human body. The war in Iraq is no more violent to them than what they see on television and in video games. This administration actively prevents what’s going on in Iraq daily from being seen in the daily news! Between what the Bush government wants and what network news is unwilling to do, Iraq is just a walk in the park, and what we don’t know can’t hurt THEM.

]]> By: Robt http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403424 Robt Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:39:15 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403424 <p>What I found helps relieve the agrivated folks that run around “saying and demanding” us to support the troops and then sing the “vote for Senator McCain” song. I ask of them exactly what is it you actually do or have done to support the troops?</p> <p> The average answer is replied to very uncomfortably. The normal response is in the catagory of “showing something to others” or what I call making a display of support”.</p> <p> And by now we all know that putting a “support the troops” magnet on your vehicle is not as quite the sacrifice of knocking on your Congressman’s door and bending his/her ear to correct Walter Reed Hospital or vote for the Veterans benefit bill. </p> <p> A phone call to your senator on VA funding is too difficult and too partisan for these folks.</p> <p> Taking the time to learn and understand all the issues and realities of Iraq so one could act on those facts is supporting the troops more than a republican flag pin (made in China) worn on the lapel.</p> <p> Like in the White House, we have many that never served in the military.<br /> This doesn’t make anyone specifically yellow or less American. But there are those that feel they are viewed as yellow and make aggressive points to attempt to make up for their percieved lack when they were able and capable yet, chose otherwise.<br /> As our 5 deferment war hero monger Vice President Cheney tries at every decision to prove to the world he is not a coward. And that the V.P. in fact had other more important things to do than serve his country. Now he demands of everyone else to serve and support the troops he places in harms way for Exxon/mobile profits.<br /> Their self percieved cowardness causes them to over react and over extend their proving decisions which they feel ensures their perception of strength and only places those that they effect in irrationally deeper harm.</p> What I found helps relieve the agrivated folks that run around “saying and demanding” us to support the troops and then sing the “vote for Senator McCain” song. I ask of them exactly what is it you actually do or have done to support the troops?

The average answer is replied to very uncomfortably. The normal response is in the catagory of “showing something to others” or what I call making a display of support”.

And by now we all know that putting a “support the troops” magnet on your vehicle is not as quite the sacrifice of knocking on your Congressman’s door and bending his/her ear to correct Walter Reed Hospital or vote for the Veterans benefit bill.

A phone call to your senator on VA funding is too difficult and too partisan for these folks.

Taking the time to learn and understand all the issues and realities of Iraq so one could act on those facts is supporting the troops more than a republican flag pin (made in China) worn on the lapel.

Like in the White House, we have many that never served in the military.
This doesn’t make anyone specifically yellow or less American. But there are those that feel they are viewed as yellow and make aggressive points to attempt to make up for their percieved lack when they were able and capable yet, chose otherwise.
As our 5 deferment war hero monger Vice President Cheney tries at every decision to prove to the world he is not a coward. And that the V.P. in fact had other more important things to do than serve his country. Now he demands of everyone else to serve and support the troops he places in harms way for Exxon/mobile profits.
Their self percieved cowardness causes them to over react and over extend their proving decisions which they feel ensures their perception of strength and only places those that they effect in irrationally deeper harm.

]]> By: kathyinstlouis1 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403298 kathyinstlouis1 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:56:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403298 <p>Mr. Katz says “no problem” to his own estimated 1000 suicide attempts per month among veterans? Employment security seems to be his biggest priority, and I mean his own.</p> Mr. Katz says “no problem” to his own estimated 1000 suicide attempts per month among veterans? Employment security seems to be his biggest priority, and I mean his own.

]]> By: RevBev http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403235 RevBev Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:32:18 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403235 <p>Juno, We know that is your view of Obama and his supporters. Like screaming, it does not make that view any more accurate or correct because you keep saying it. Do you now find it very insulting to keep telling a group of pretty smart, usually well-intentioned, thoughtful people that they are somehow delusional/misguided/tricked because they happen to support Sen. Obama. Many people in this year may be for the “wrong” person; for many of us the choice was quite close/difficult. Having made the choice to go with Obama, does not mean we buy everything he says and it certainly does not mean we are detached from reality. For you to make that pronouncement is not only erroneous, it is condescending, etc. Sorry only supporting HRC represents the world of reality. Good grief.</p> Juno, We know that is your view of Obama and his supporters. Like screaming, it does not make that view any more accurate or correct because you keep saying it. Do you now find it very insulting to keep telling a group of pretty smart, usually well-intentioned, thoughtful people that they are somehow delusional/misguided/tricked because they happen to support Sen. Obama. Many people in this year may be for the “wrong” person; for many of us the choice was quite close/difficult. Having made the choice to go with Obama, does not mean we buy everything he says and it certainly does not mean we are detached from reality. For you to make that pronouncement is not only erroneous, it is condescending, etc. Sorry only supporting HRC represents the world of reality. Good grief.

]]> By: alank http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403156 alank Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:33:15 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403156 <p>I was thinking of Dr. (Jonathan) Katz and his patients.</p> I was thinking of Dr. (Jonathan) Katz and his patients.

]]> By: jackie http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403149 jackie Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:27:50 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403149 <p>Raven :)<br /> I take everything I find with a little caution :), but there were stories out there, and ‘who’ ever shot Pat Tillman was very ‘precise’. There is still many questions there..<br /> Also, I know everyone here is either really, really smart or trying to be smarter, which explains why I’m here ALL the time, lol (I’m one of the ‘trying to learn folk!), so when I’m over-reaching, I still learn…</p> Raven :)
I take everything I find with a little caution :), but there were stories out there, and ‘who’ ever shot Pat Tillman was very ‘precise’. There is still many questions there..
Also, I know everyone here is either really, really smart or trying to be smarter, which explains why I’m here ALL the time, lol (I’m one of the ‘trying to learn folk!), so when I’m over-reaching, I still learn…

]]> By: DWBartoo http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403145 DWBartoo Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:24:38 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403145 <p>Juno ‘high’ expectations regarding Irak is nonsense.</p> <p>I’m talking about human beings actually getting a grip on REALITY and we have to begin some place.</p> <p>Can you agree with that?</p> <p>This is NOT ABOUT OBAMA OR CLINTON!</p> <p>This about us, human beings and our world, what we understand about it and about ourselves, as well as all those things we have, historically, CHOSEN, collectively, as a species to NOT KNOW ABOUT or NOT ACKNOWLEDGE.</p> <p>If you get my drift …?</p> Juno ‘high’ expectations regarding Irak is nonsense.

I’m talking about human beings actually getting a grip on REALITY and we have to begin some place.

Can you agree with that?

This is NOT ABOUT OBAMA OR CLINTON!

This about us, human beings and our world, what we understand about it and about ourselves, as well as all those things we have, historically, CHOSEN, collectively, as a species to NOT KNOW ABOUT or NOT ACKNOWLEDGE.

If you get my drift …?

]]> By: Juno http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403138 Juno Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:17:32 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403138 <p>I don’t think capitulation/apathy is the alternative.</p> <p>I’m saying high expectations that ignore realities lead to trouble. Think Iraq.</p> I don’t think capitulation/apathy is the alternative.

I’m saying high expectations that ignore realities lead to trouble. Think Iraq.

]]> By: DWBartoo http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403134 DWBartoo Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:13:54 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403134 <p>Well, we SHOULD be used to that THWARTING um … mentality by now.</p> <p>But are we going to let it stop us? slow us down? make us wring our little paws in despair?</p> <p>No! A resoundinmg no!!!</p> <p>Would you agree?</p> <p>(You can tell that I’m trying to be ‘agreeable’?)</p> Well, we SHOULD be used to that THWARTING um … mentality by now.

But are we going to let it stop us? slow us down? make us wring our little paws in despair?

No! A resoundinmg no!!!

Would you agree?

(You can tell that I’m trying to be ‘agreeable’?)

]]> By: Juno http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403132 Juno Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:08:46 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/22/supporting-the-troops/#comment-1403132 <p>Considering the GOP plan is precisely to THWART anything the new Dem president does…</p> Considering the GOP plan is precisely to THWART anything the new Dem president does…

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